Canadian activist calls for government fight against dementia

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-1-9 16:04:19

A former airline executive diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease five years ago is calling for the British Columbia government to allocate more resources to combat the disabling brain disorder.

Jim Mann, who on Tuesday announced the launching of Jim's Push for a Plan initiative in conjunction with the Alzheimer Society of B.C., said the provincial government needs to create a comprehensive action plan that "prioritizes early diagnosis."

With about 70,000 people in the western Canada province living with dementia and 15,000 new cases each year, the 64-year-old also asked for financial incentives for family caregivers to keep those afflicted in their homes as long as possible, and tools for health-care providers, such as expanding the current on-the-job training.

"The plan I want to see will first of all acknowledge the many issues facing us as people with dementia along with our caregivers, and then provide a road map for this journey of ours," he said.

"The plan should promote early diagnosis so families can organize their affairs and maybe even investigate drug trials. The earlier their diagnosis, the earlier they can adapt, connect with their local Alzheimer society and learn that there is indeed life after diagnosis."

Under the B.C. Ministry of Health's current budget, dementia sufferers who pay into the provincial health plan can get basic medical services in addition to medication for the early to mid stages of the degenerative brain disease estimated to affect about 36 million people worldwide.

With dementia-related disease also known to take a great physical and psychological toll on caregivers, often a spouse or a family member, they can apply to the province government to be considered for caregiver respite/relief services, a cost usually shared by the family and the health ministry.

B.C. Health Minister Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid who was in attendance at the Jim's Push for a Plan launch, said that while she wasn't making any financial commitment she was keenly aware of the demand for services.

As a family physician before entering politics, she called dementia a "difficult diagnosis to hear" but added that people could live very well with the disease if surrounded by a good support network.

"We do have the reality of an aging population and currently dementia doesn't have a cure. At the same time, we've got people in this province dedicated to do research in this area who do think there are exciting developments right around the corner and we're supporting that as a government," MacDiarmid said.

She also supported the idea of those afflicted living in their own homes as long as possible, as well as the benefits of respite for caregivers and adult day care programs.

"So some of those kinds of things are where you can make a small investment that will then delay someone having to go into residential care which is a much larger investment," she said

With the World Health Organization forecasting the number of dementia cases to reach 115.4 million by 2050, Nan Koldewijn supported Mann's call for more help for caregivers.

In taking care of her husband Frank who was diagnosed with dementia in 2006, she compared the disease to a "daily goodbye, sad, lonely and heavy."

Koldewijin is currently taking anti-depressants to cope and tries to keep her husband engaged by making sure he is busy and healthy with good food and regular exercise to slow the disease down.

"This is a disease that's not sexy. There's no hope," Koldewijn said. "I don't know if it (Mann's plan) will come about to help us but there are so many people coming up not only in B.C., but in Canada, that there has to be something done. It is a huge drain on a family financially, emotionally, healthwise. It impacts everybody. Everybody get this diagnosis, not just the one person."

Mann, who is traveling around B.C. to spread awareness about dementia and gain support for his plan with provincial elections in May, said he also wants to end any stigmas that can discourage people from getting a diagnosis or revealing their condition.

He realized governments are stretched for cash but said dementia is a growing problem that needs attention.

"So it's a matter of incremental improvements, and a matter of implementing a new program here or expanding a program there. But unfortunately, it's one of those things where the longer you wait the worse it's going to be," he said. "It is a matter of getting government to focus and what are we, jointly, going to do to help and address the needs of the community."

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